WEST POINT — True, Syracuse men’s lacrosse freshman Brian Crockett broke traditional rules by hurdling a depth chart of more experienced attackers to see significant playing time and score three goals.

But that, much to Crockett’s relief, was his only offense.

Midway through the second half, officials confiscated the rookie’s stick for almost a minute, checking for an illegal pocket.

Crockett held his breath. He feared the rain had soaked and stretched his stick’s strings, and worse yet, he feared such an infraction might overshadow the two goals he’d already scored during Syracuse’s 15-7 win Saturday at Army.

“I was a little worried for a minute,” Crockett said.

Quickly, though, the officials closed court. The stick was OK. And Crockett, during his first collegiate game, was far better than OK.

After the Orangemen shoveled themselves under a 4-0 Army lead, Crockett scored three of the game’s next 10 goals. He tied the contest at 5-5 with an unassisted goal a minute before halftime, as he looped from behind the Army net, spun past one defender and whipped a shot past goalkeeper Matt Darak.

The goal came from such a sharp angle that Crockett stood just a step beyond the plane of the goal line while unleashing the shot.

“Once I got out there, I felt pretty good,” said Crockett, who lives in Yorktown, just 30 minutes from West Point. “I just wanted to play hard, and I had a lot of fun out there.”

Crockett scoring his third goal, 12 seconds after his stick inspection, certainly helped his mood. Syracuse fueled its comeback on a score-faceoff-score pace that kept Army away from the ball and disabled the Black Knights from controlling the game with their possession offense.

Crockett’s final goal, Syracuse’s ninth, maintained the pace.

“Crockett really played well today,” senior attacker Mike Springer said. “Among the freshmen I’ve seen since I’ve been here, he’s definitely up there.”

Sloppy field day

Relentless rain and 40-degree temperatures forced most Syracuse players to wear half-inch screw-in spikes. That, along with the composite AstroPlay surface at Army’s Michie Stadium — essentially turf with the texture of grass — made field conditions bearable.

“This field was great, almost ridiculous,” SU junior Steve Vallone said. “You simply don’t slip.”

Conditions on the sideline were another story. Freezing rain soaked through uniforms and jackets, causing discomfort for those out of the game. At halftime, players changed their gloves.

“It was real cold,” said Sean Lindsay, who led Syracuse with four goals. “I was soaking wet, and my hands were pretty much frozen.”

Staying home

Two Syracuse players, senior attackman Liam Banks and redshirt freshman midfielder Drew Bucktooth, did not travel with the team. Bucktooth is still bothered by a stress fracture in his right leg, and Banks has an injured right shoulder.

“If you can’t play,” Syracuse head coach John Desko said, “you’re not going to travel.”

Banks might have played Saturday, but he suffered a setback last week during practice when a stick struck him on his sore shoulder.

Without Banks in the lineup, Springer often took his place controlling the offense. Springer led the Orangemen with four assists.

This and that

Two inches of standing water along the base of the stands made it impossible for fans to enter or leave the stadium without submerging their feet in ice-cold water. … The game marked just the second February outdoor game SU has played during its 84-year history. Originally, the game was scheduled for the Carrier Dome, but because the Dome hosted last weekend’s Big East Indoor Track and Field Championships, the contest was moved to Army. … Two players from last year’s team, defensemen Billy St. George and John Glatzel, attended the game. Senior Sol Bliss said several Syracuse players met up with their former teammates on Friday.

Published on February 22, 2003 at 12:00 pm